Lunchtime

Eating a healthy and balanced lunch is vital to a child’s learning.

We encourage all pupils to eat healthy and a school dinner provides our pupils with a hot, nutritional meal.

Packed lunches may be eaten in school. If your child is bringing a packed lunch, please make sure the lunch box is clearly labelled with the child’s name and class. No glass bottles, cans or fizzy drinks should be sent in with your child’s packed lunch.

Dinner prices

School dinners are cooked on the premises by our Cook. A school meal currently costs £2.10 per day. You’ll find full information in our School Meals Information Booklet

Free School Meals

Free school meals are available for children if their parent or carer receives certain benefits. Apply immediately if you think you will qualify.

All children in reception, year 1 and year 2 infants are entitled to a universal free school meal; a government scheme. If your child qualifies for a universal free meal and would also qualify for free school meals under the eligibility criteria, please still apply.

It is important to apply as this registers your child for the pupil premium; funding available to schools for children who qualify for free school meals via the eligibility criteria.

If you don’t apply, your child’s school will miss out on funding which could go towards equipment, resources, trips.

If your child prefers to take a packed lunch or make other arrangements, you will still need to register for free school meals for your school to receive the pupil premium funding.

Who can get free school meals?

Parents or guardians are entitled to get free school meals or milk for their children if they receive any of the following:

Income Support

Income based Jobseekers Allowance

Guaranteed Pension Credit

Child Tax Credit with a total annual taxable income of less than £16,190 and are not receiving Working Tax Credit

income related Employment and Support Allowance

Universal Credit

have successfully obtained asylum status

If you are a foster carer, and receiving a fostering allowance, you are not eligible to claim free school meals for those children you are fostering from school year 3 and above.

Apply

You can apply online at www.wirral.gov.uk. You will receive an immediate response to your application via email. This will tell you if you are eligible and you will be sent a letter of confirmation.

If you need to contact us regarding the outcome of your application please email freeschoolmeals@wirral.gov.uk. Please include your full name, address and a contact number.

If you feel you should qualify and have been turned down please state your reasons.

Change in circumstances

If you have a change in your circumstances, for example your child changes school or you or your partner stop receiving any of the benefits listed above, please contact the team as soon as possible: